Apparatus for manufacturing metal-dust.



M. H. NEWELL.

APPARATUS F R MANUFACTURING METAL ousr. APPLICATION FILED AUG.6. I918.

1395,5573, I .Ptented Feb, 25, with WITNESS IN VEN TOR fl/J ATTORNEYS specification.

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WGN H. NEWELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,- ASSIGNOR TOJIHE ALLOYS CQMPANY, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

APPMATUS FOR MANUFACTURING METAL-DUST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 6, rate. Serial an. 248,549.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that l, MINTON H. Nnwmin, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Manufacturing Metal-Dust, of which the following is a The invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing metal dust and particularly to an apparatus for vaporizing zinc and condensing the vapor to produce zinc dust.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the percentage of metallic droplets formed in the condensing chamber is materially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a; condenser of such construction that the metal vapor from the-retort is cooled before itcomes into contact with the walls of; the condenser; a

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full, that form of the invention which l have selected for illustration in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present specification.

The drawing is a vertical section of the apparatus of my invention;

In the manufacture of zinc dust, by the method which ll employ, spelter, zinc dross or other zinc containing material is heated to vaporization in a retort and the vapors discharge into a condensing chamber in which they condense to form zinc dust. Thecondenser is made of sheet metal and its outer surface is exposed to the air to permit the radiation of heat, and consequently the walls of the condenser are comparatively cool. The metal vapor discharges from the retort into the condenser, wherein it is condoused into metal dust. Heretofore a certain amount of metallic droplets of various" sizes were formed in the condenser, and the presence of these droplets is undesirable. l have found that these metallic droplets were formed by the hot metallic. vapor coming into contact with the cool condenser walls,

and have found that if the vapors were cooled before they came into contact with the cool walls, that the formation of metallie droplets was egreatly reduced. This l by so shaping the condenser, with relation to the discharge outlet of the retort that the vapors are considerably cooled before they can come into contact with the condenser walls.

The spelter, zinc dross or other zinc bearing material, is vaporized in the retort 2, which is arranged withinthe furnace 3 the, neck 4: of the retort extending through and forming a tight joint with the front wall 5 of the furnace. From the retort, which is disposed in an inclined position, the va- Patented Feb. 25, this.

pors discharge into the condenser 6 through the hood 7, forming an extension of the condenser and forming tight j oints with the furnace walls. The condenser is preferably cylindrical in shape and the hood is preferably rectangular, its height being greater than its width. The mouth of the retort is arranged adjacent the bottom of the hood and the height of the hood is such that the upper wall or to 8 thereof is spaced suiiiciently from the mouth of the retort to per mit the vapors to cool before they rise into contact with the top. The rear wall 9 of the hood is placed backward, preferably behind the front surface of the furnace wall 5, so that the rising hot vapors will not corhe into contact with the cool wall. The rear wall 9 may be covered with the sheet 12 of asbestos or similar material to prevent any hot vapor which may rise directly toward it, from coming into contact with a cool surface and to prevent the formation of an alloy of the metal of the hot -vapor and the metal of the rear wall, which would eventually cause perforation or destruction of the rear wall. The/hood is preferably dischute at the top and when closed, lies in an inclined position. llVhen released, the gate swings downward, away from the opening,

leaving the opening entirely free. This form of gate is highly advantageous, since nothingoan lodge on the seat and prevent the proper closing of the gate.

The condenser is provided with one or more removable plugs 1%, closing openings disposed at convenient points for'the inserios are

. enough to adord a coolin arranged in upper portion tion of atool for of the retort or for I claim:

1. An apparatus for manufacturing metal dust comprising a retort in which the metalis vaporized, a condensing chamber and a hood forming part of the condensing chamber and surrounding the mouth of the retort, the upper wall of the hood being spaced from the mouth of the retort to permit the vapor to cool before it contacts therewith.

An apparatus for manufacturing metal dust comprising a furnace having a front wall, a retort in which the metal is vaporized arranged in said furnace and extending through. said wall, a hood forminga tight joint with the furnace and surrounding the mouth of the retort, the rear of the hood being disposed behindthe face of the fun nace front wall and a condensing chamber forming a tight joint with said hood.

3. An apparatus for manufacturing metal dust comprising a furnace having a front wall, a retort in which the metal is vaporized said furnace and extending wall, a condensing chamber the vaporized metal large space therefor and a hood extending from the condensing chamber and surrounding the mouth of the retort, the hood extending above the furnace so that the upper wall is spaced from the retort mouth a suficient distance to permit cooling of the vapor before it contacts with said upper wall- An apparatus for manufacturing metal dust comprising a furnace wall, a retortin which the metal is vaporized arranged in said furnace and extending through said Wall, a metallic condensing chamber, exposed on its outer surface to the atmosphere, for metal, a metallic hood extending from said chamber and surrounding the mouth of the retort, the mouth of the retort being disposed adjacent the lower portion of the hood, the hood being of such height that the thereof extends above said clearing out the mouth other purposes.

through said for receiving furnace. I

5. An apparatus for manufacturing metal dust comprising a furnace having a front wall, a retort in which the metal is vaporized having a front receiving the vaporized my hand at 30th day of July 1918.

arranged in said furnace and extending through said wall, a condensing chamber for receiving the vaporized metal and a plug in the wall of said chamber opposite the mouth of said retort adapted to be removed to permit-access to the mouth of the retort.

6. An apparatus for manufacturing metal dust comprising a furnace having a front Wall, a retort in which the metal is vaporized arranged in said furnace and extending through said wall, a cylindrical metallic condensing chamber for receiving the vaporized metal, a hood extending from the side of said chamber adjacent the bottom surroundingthe mouth of the retort and forming a tight joint with the furnace walls, the upper wall of the hood being disposed above the furnace and the rear Wall of the hood being set back beyond the front wall of the furnace. I

7. An apparatus for manufacturing metal dust comprising a retort in which the metal is vaporized, a condensing chamber for receiving the vaporized metal, a hood extending from the condensing chamber and surrounding the mouth of the retort, and a lining of heat insulatingmaterial on the back of the hood.

8. An apparatus for manufacturing metal dust comprising means for vaporizing the metal, a metallic condensing chamber in which the vaporized metal is condensed, a conical bottom on said condensing chamber, an inclined discharge spout having an inclined discharge opening arranged at the bottom of the conical bottom and a gate hinged to the closing said discharge opening.

9. A condenser comprising a metallic chamber having thin walls through which heat is emitted, and a hood forming a tight joint with said chamber and projecting from the lower portion thereof, said hood being provided with an aperture adjacent the bottom through which the material is adapted to be introduced.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set San FT&DClSO,C8-llf0llll&, this r/nuron n. nnwnnn lln presence of H. G: Pnosr.

upper side of the spout and till 

